Marwako should be sanctioned; pay hefty compensation – Law lecturer

A private legal practitioner is advocating tough punishment against Marwako Fast Food, whose branch supervisor is being investigated by the police for assaulting an employee.

Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee said the company must be sanctioned by the state and made to pay compensation to the lady that it will “feel it.”

Speaking on the International Women’s Day special edition of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday, she said a severe sanction will send a loud signal to other companies that employee assault is not tolerated in Ghana.

The discussion featured former Deputy Finance Minister, Mona Quartey, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministry, Joyce Aryee, and Senior Director-in-Charge of Government Relations at Newmont Africa, Ama Sarpong Bawuah. Te show was hosted by Samira Bawumia, wife of vice-president Mahamudu Bawumia.

There was outrage, especially on social media after news broke that a Ghanaian worker had been manhandled by her supervisor for allegedly working slowly.

The panel of discussants on Joy FM's Super Morning Show

Jihad Chaaban, 26, who is a brother-in-law of the owner of Marwako Restaurant in Accra, is reported to have dipped Evelyn Boakye’s face into pepper sauce on February 26.

He held her face in the pepper sauce for more than 10 minutes, disregarding pleas from other employees, a colleague said.

The police arrested him last week, but he was later released on police inquiry bail, pending the conclusion of investigations.

Mr Chaaban has apologised and pleaded to be forgiven in a one-page letter, but Ms Boakye said she wants the state to take its own action on the matter.

The Gender and Labour Ministries have both intervened in the issue to ensure justice is served Ms Boakye.

Gender Minister, Afisa Otiko-Djaba promised to ensure the perpetrator is made to face the sanction prescribed in Ghana’s law.

Employment Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah has directed the Ministry’s Labour Department to initiate an audit into the labour history of Marwako Fast Food.

EC boss, Charlotte Osei on Super Morning ShowHe told Joy News on Tuesday that he would not hesitate to sanction the company if it is found culpable after investigations.

But Mrs Beeri Kasser-Tee, a law lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, wants government to use the incident to right the wrongs about labour relations in the country.

“This is the time we will count on the state to stand by her [Ms Boakye],” she said, adding the right message would be sent with the attention.

She said she was told the incident was not the first time an employee has been maltreated in the company.

“I think Marwako as an institution should be sanctioned [and told] that this will not be tolerated,” she added.

On her part, Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Charlotte Osei said the assault on the lady has nothing to do with gender.

She explained it is about employer and employees relationship that has to be properly assessed. "Clearly this kind of treatment breach the law."

Mrs Osei charged the Labour Commission, and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to demand justice for the lady.